"We were very much sure that Tariq Aziz is to be released, taking the law procedures into considerations," he told Al Jazeera. "But, apparently there's been a political decision made by [the] Iraqi government."

Arif said the government may be trying to use Aziz as a bargaining chip in its push for a national reconciliation agreement.

Al-Majid and Aziz are also among 16 former officials on trial for a violent campaign against Shia Kurds.

They are accused of gassing members of the Fayli Kurdish community as part of a chemical weapons testing programme and as human shields during Iraq's war with neighbouring Iran from 1980 to 1988.

Aziz surrendered to US forces in April 2003 after Saddam Hussein's government was overthrown.

Related

At least 28 killed in bomb attack at busy marketplace in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad.

Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments
are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct
or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and
global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in
accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.